Acne is no fun. Not only do sufferers undergo years of painful, and sometimes disfiguring spots during the critically self-aware teenage years, but they are often then left with scarring as a visible reminder.According to the NHS, approximately 80% of 11-30 year olds are affected by acne - a truly staggering amount. Most sufferers continue to show symptoms for several years with active acne most often disappearing by the mid-twenties. Around 6% of people over the age of 25 continue to have acne.There is no cure for acne and once the patient grows out of the spot phase, scarring can be extremely difficult to improve. The most common treatments currently on the market are invasive and are not without an often-significant impact on the patient.Current treatments like dermabrasion, chemical peels and dermal fillers have mixed success in terms of cosmetic outcome and can become expensive if the patient must try an array of therapies. Synonymous with this, are the psychological effects of failed treatments: when peels and micro dermal abrasion just doesn’t work, patients suffering with the effects of acne scarring feel they have no where else to turn.In contrast, PRP injection in combination with other therapies has beenproven to be effective and safe in a recent study.Why does scarring occur?Acne scarring occurs when collagen fibres form a thick, and tight area in order to protect the skin from further damage. Ice pick, rolling, and boxcar scarring is common after cystic acne that is not only very painful during its active phase, but also leaves damaged skin in its wake.Scarring can also have a deep psychological impact as well as more obvious cosmetic problems. Embarrassment, poor self-esteem and withdrawing socially are all associated with both acne and the scarring it leaves behind.PRP treatments work by promoting the normal formation of collagen tissue so as to produce a more even looking skin texture. Because PRP accelerates tissue repair and promotes wound healing, it can be used very effectively in combination with other traditional acne scar improving treatments.PRP is most commonly combined with micro needling, or phototherapy in order to speed up healing time and improve tissue repair and ultimately, to produce an improved appearance in the texture of the skin.As both treatments result in swelling and moderate levels of pain the addition of PRP treatment improves both healing time, and pain reduction. The growth factors that PRP injections deliver directly to the target site, stimulate tissue remodelling and the improved healing of connective tissues.Further, because PRP is a completely autologous treatment, there is almost no risk to the patient. PRP treatments carry significantly reduced risk of infection or allergic reaction, all of which makes PRP a superior partner treatment in the treatment of acne scarring.Get in touch todayIf you want to find out more, fill out our online form to book a freedemonstration of our unique single-use system and see how PRP can work for your patients.